The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1887-03-12

LTURDAY !, RICH 70,
effort 1 overcame my feelings of horror
and stepped forward to examine the bod
les. There was no blood upon them, and
at first could find no trace of any kind of
violence. At last my eyes fell upon what
had often seen fellow creatures, aye, hun
dreds of them, slain in fair fight on the
battlefield, and had myself knocked over
many man as coolly as would a part
ridge among the stubble; but to see those
men, each with vivid swollen circle round
his neck, with staring eyes, blackened lips
and protruding tongue, telling that he had
been foully and treacherously strangled,
that was widely different thing"
''Sure, the Major must have begun his
examination at their boots, since he
couldn't at FIRST began the Irishman,
soto voce, but was checked by sudden
glance shot at him from the keen eyes of
the Major, who repeated slowly and with a
visible shudder, of whose genuineness
there could surely be no question:: "Ah!
that was very, very different thing, and
an icy sweat broke out on my forehead. as,
hastily retracing my steps, I hurried to-
ward the camp. When got within about
twenty yards of the edge of the wood
saw, not dozen yards away, native
standing by tree, with his back toward
me- He was in full view from where I
stood, but perfectly hidden from any one
in the open space between the camp and
the wood.
"He had his rifle up to his shoulder, and
| xUQo fol oirn of inc mr.
somebody. The thought flashed like light
ming across my mind-'The villain! It's
the Colonel he's aiming at Ny resolution
was taken instantaneously. If he heard me
cock my revolver, then, before 1 could
shoot him down, he might fire, without
waiting to take better aim at his living
mark.
"My hand instinctively frightened it's grip
of my revolver as leaped noiselessly with
few cat-lke bounds across the interven-
ing space, and before the fellow had time
to look round had felled him to the earth.
His skull was smashed in, and he died
without uttering cry or a groan.
1.-THE next moment the Colonel sprang
forward into view in the open-he had
been hidden before by tree that came be-
tween us. There he stood stock still gazing
into the wood to my left He had evident
ly heard the sound of the blow, slight as it
was, but was not sure of the direction from
which it had proceeded His left side was
turned almost full toward me, his right
shaded his eyes.
GAS he gazed intently into the wood
heard, faint, yet distinct, sharp click to
my right. turned my head in that direc-
quick and keen in those days-l saw the
| Aicooloro1 Ynr71lo of cr1,n Yroiocf.
ing from the far side of large tree, and
pointing in the direction of the Colonel
"The man that held it was completely
hidden from me by the tree. What could
Idol Was to stand there, impotent as a
| baby to avert the danger, and see my
Colonel shot down like dog2
"a shout Of warning would have been
worse than useless; it would simply have
fastened the fatal catastrophe. l could
not fire at the Indian, for he was complete
~ out of sight-there was no part of him
to be seen. Even had there been, it would
have availed me nothing unless could
have killed him instantaneously. A bullet
in the leg would not probably have made
him vince or alter his aim by hairs
breadth, for the fellows were either regu-
lar stoics or utterly insensible to pain.
One casual glance had suficed to show me
did I mention that my eyes were most
extraordinarily good!-telescopea and micro
scope combined,' they used to say-that
that aim was directed full upon the mo-
tionless Colonel's left temple
ga moments reflection decided me-
there was but one chance left; desperate
one, but still it was chance.
II grasped my revolver firmly in my
hand, despatched as it was with blood
and brains; then, without cooking it, for
knew that the faintest sound made by me
at this juncture would have been the
| Colonel's death signal, took steady aim at
| point about yard from his head, in the
line that knew the bullet must take from
the rifle Of the native to his temple. !
might have aimed at the muzzle of his rife
had not known that the moment the click
of my revolver was heard the death-deal-
ing bullet would be on it's way. When
think of that moment of agonizing sus.
pense my words seem to stick in my
throat"
Again the hint was taken, and the irrev-
erent young Irishman winked at friend
as he thought to himself: sCrams do stick
in one's throat sometimes, and it takes a
lot Of washing to swallow them downw
''These things take time in the telling,
but, by lingo! they took literally no time
in the doing. 'Pon my honor, could
hardly expect.you to believe the end of my
story, but that you know, like myself, that
truth is stronger than fiction.
"Well, took steady aim at the spot that
knew the bullet must pass, and fixed it
as immovably as if the muscles of my arm
had been blacksmith's wise, so that,
when the moment came, might fire with
out looking at it again. Then, with my
eyes fixed on the muzzle of the rife,
watched it-not second had elapsed since
heard it cocked-then raised the hammer
of my revolver, hardly daring to breathe,
lest should alter the aim by the breadth
of a gossamer thread.
Gas had anticipated, the moment the
click reached the ears Of the would-be-as-
sassin, and before the report of his shot
reached my ears, saw tn. bullet leave the
barrel OF his rifle. That instant I pressed
the trigger. 1t was a desperate attempt,
as said before, but it was successful.
The Colonel I'll not fall! He was saved!
sMy first thou, 1t, or instinct, was to fire
at the dark form flying away among the
trees I brought him down, and the
Colonel rushed toward me with his own re-
volver ready for use He recognized me
ar tho instant and demanded an eYn1ana-